Limo Service Says Celeb Chef Defamed It

ATLANTIC CITY (CN) – A limousine service says a celebrity chef stole a $360 ride by impersonating a customer, and then defamed it by “publish(ing) his theft as a short story video (on) his Internet Web site in a manner that glorified his theft at the expense of plaintiff’s reputation.” Torgro Limousine Service sued John Mitzewich in Atlantic County Court.

Torgro demands millions of dollars for defamation, privacy violation and interference with contract. It claims Mitzewich stole the $360 ride from a customer, and then posted a video of it on his Web site under the title, “A Short Film of a Long Trip – Watch Chef John Go ‘Costanza’ On Some Guy Named Tim’s Limo.” Torgro adds, “The defendant’s video mocked plaintiff’s driver glorified his theft of the plaintiff’s limousines service and thereby defamed the plaintiff’s company and professional reputation.” Torgro is represented by G. Bruce Ward and Conrad Benedetto of Wildwood Crest, N.J.